The Diamond Bearers' Destiny

by Lorena Angell

  “What does an Unaltered’s aura look like? Does it look like Calli’s?”

  “No. You’ll see color surrounding an individual, mostly above the head and shoulders.” Crimson reaches toward Chris, then pauses. “I might as well alter both of you at the same time. I like all of my Diamond Bearers to be able to see auras.”

  Shocked and amazed, I look at Crimson. She smiles at me as she places her right hand on my forehead and her left on Chris’s. My heart rate increases with excitement as deep piercing warmth from her palm penetrates inside my head. Tingling sensations tickle the back of my eyeballs. I wonder if Chris feels the same sensations.

  I simply can’t believe my vision is being altered by the oldest woman on the face of the earth. The possessor of the Primal Stone, creator of the Sanguine Diamond, protector of nature’s will . . . and now my mentor.

  The heated warmth in my head subsides, and my thoughts turn to curiosity. Like Chris, I also wonder what an Unaltered’s aura will look like.

  Out of the blue, my mind opens up into a vision. I see Chris standing next to his father in a room that looks like the CT scan room in a hospital. Chris and his father both have auras around their bodies, which shocks me right off the bat because that would mean they are Unaltereds. Then, to my horror, Chris extends his hand toward his father and reveals that he’s holding a Sanguine Diamond. His father reaches forward to take the diamond!

  I shout and jump right out of my chair. As reality slowly sets back in, I turn around to find Crimson eyeing me suspiciously, as well as Chris.

  “What is it?” Chris asks.

  “I . . . uh, had a vision.”

  “About what?”

  I search Crimson’s eyes, hoping she’ll speak to me and order me to say nothing. She doesn’t. I look over at Chris’s inquisitive gaze and say, “It’s nothing. I probably misinterpreted it anyway.”

  “What do you mean? It’s not nothing. Do I die again?”

  “Actually, no, that’s not what it was about . . . I don’t think I should talk about it.”

  Crimson nods. “Calli’s right. Dwelling on future visions is not the best use of our time. Come now, we have a lot to do.”

  We follow her out of the room and down to Brand’s room. She inserts the extra keycard into the slot and opens the door. Brand and Beth instantly sit up straight on the bed and put some distance between their bodies. Their faces flush with embarrassment.

  Crimson’s lips press into a hard thin line and she shakes her head ever so slightly. She looks at me and says, “I’m going to retrieve the obsidian so you can conduct your experiments.” She leaves the room.

  Chris puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. “The look in your eyes has me worried,” he says. “I’m not asking you to tell me about your vision. I only want you to know that I would never do anything to hurt you. You know that, right?”

  “Yes, I know. I’ll discuss it with Crimson later. Please don’t lose any sleep over it, Chris.”

  “Are you going to lose sleep over it?”

  Crimson enters the room carrying a pewter-colored antique box with ornate filigrees covering it. She sets the box in the center of the table, carefully unlatches the old-fashioned clasp, and raises the lid. My powers rush out of my body.

  I hate this feeling!

  “What are you thinking of doing, Calli?” Crimson asks me as she sits down on one of the chairs. I know she has already read my mind concerning my intentions. She wants me to voice my intentions to the group.

  I walk to the box and glance inside at the several pieces of obsidian of varying sizes. I reach in and pull out the largest and hold it up to the light. “I want to use the obsidian on the Demons. Chris told us that General Harding is able to charge quartz crystals with the Demon’s healing power by luring them to a person with powers who has quartz on their body. My logic is, if Demons have powers to give, they have powers to take away.” I extend my hand with the obsidian toward the group. “According to the journals, a black rock was used to cleanse the shadows. It might have been myth or folklore, but it also might have had substance. I want to know what happens when a Shadow Demon encounters obsidian.” I point to Brand, saying, “And you’re gonna help me.”

  “Aw shucks, Calli. I thought you’d never ask. I just love getting eaten alive.” Brand says sarcastically.

  Beth’s expression is hard to read. “What are you talking about?”

  Brand says, “It’s how Calli developed the Pulse Emitters in the first place. I had to get eaten several times over in order to come up with the final result.”

  “What?” Beth exclaims, and then a devious smile creeps across her face. “This I’ve got to see.”

  I laugh. “No, we’re not going to play around with Brand’s life this time. The idea is to have him test just once to make sure the Demons are not a threat.”

  “Thank you, Calli.” Brand swipes his hand across his forehead.

  Chris asks, Did he really get attacked? Did you see it?

  Yes. It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen, but then he repeated back as if it had never happened. Only I remembered it vividly. I’ll never get the image of Brand being shredded out of my head.

  I know what you’re talking about. I’ve seen the same thing. But those kids didn’t get to repeat back to life.

  I’d forgotten what his father had shown him at the compound. His words are a reminder of just how serious an undertaking this project is. If I can figure out a way to alter or remove the Shadow Demons, I might be able to save the lives of some captured people as well as the rest of us.

  I clear my throat and say, “So here’s what I’d like to try. Brand, and I will go out and locate the Demons and find a safe viewing area for you two.” I point to Chris and Beth. “Crimson, do you want to come too?”

  “No, I need to communicate with Maetha,” Crimson says. “You four can do this on your own.”

  Brand excuses himself to use the bathroom. Chris and Beth move closer together and begin talking quietly. Crimson uses the opportunity to speak to my mind. It’s not a good idea for both of us to be powerless at the same time. This is your discovery. You need to finish it. I might add that you are the first person to make a serious attempt to tackle the problem in the history of Diamond Bearers.

  Well, that’s not saying much, Crimson. It required the use of an Mp3 player and batteries. Those kinds of things weren’t around fifty or a hundred years ago, let alone a thousand.

  Crimson says, Twenty-one Diamond Bearers have been unconcerned with the problem for the several decades the devices and batteries were around, thinking nothing could be done. Your mind clicked into motion with new and innovative ideas, and you were able to come up with a plan. That’s the type of quick thinking that sets you apart from the other Diamond Bearers.

  I nod and try not to look like I am pleased to hear her compliment, but I am very pleased. I replace the obsidian in the lead box and close the lid, feeling my powers flood back into my body at once. Holding the box under my arm, I walk to the door.

  Brand comes out of the bathroom and says, pointing to the closed box, “Now that’s more like it. I can’t stand that stuff!”

  I motion for him to follow me. Beth throws out a “be careful” just before we walk out of the room.

  Brand and I walk down the sidewalk toward the corner of the building. Brand mutters, “Just like old times, huh?”

  “Are you nervous?”

  “Well, yeah, of course I am. It goes against all common sense to knowingly walk into danger.”

  “Well, we’re going to keep you as safe as possible, believe me.”

  “Yeah, whatever.”

  “So, you and Beth, huh?”

  “What about it?”

  “Nothing. It’s great, I guess. If nothing else, you’re helping Beth keep her mind off her parents’ death. It’s just that only yesterday you were going on about Suz.” I catch myself and realize I shouldn’t have said anything. “Sorry, it’s none of
my business.”

  “It was only yesterday to you, Calli. To me, it feels more like last year. You do realize that if I repeat continuously every two minutes for twenty-four hours, my day lasts over three years, don’t you?”

  “Whoa, are you serious?”

  “You’re the brainiac. Do the math. Besides, I’ve been repeating with Beth. We’ve been getting to know each other.” Brand stops walking and says, “Oh, I forgot.” He reaches up and turns his Pulse Emitter off just as we reach the corner. “I can sense them. Do you see them?”

  “Yes,” I say. The hideous skeletal creatures hover right at the edge of the light, trying unsuccessfully to get to Brand. “It’s still amazing to me that just the right amount of light eliminates the danger. I don’t know where they go or why they can’t attack in the light.”

  “Or enter buildings or cars. Don’t forget that.”

  I walk into the darkness and stand among the rotten-smelling, floating threats. As before, the Demons float gently out of my way. I step toward Brand and back out into the light.

  “It still amazes me that you can see them when no one else can.”

  “All Diamond Bearers can see them.”

  It’s true, Jonas chimes into my mind. I can see them now that I have a diamond.

  I open the box and expose the obsidian, causing the Demons to slide further back into the darkness. I walk forward into the dark, only to push them deeper into the shadows. Once I walk a good twenty feet away from Brand, I notice the Demons begin to congregate near him again, so I turn in his direction.

  “It’s certainly a repellant,” I say. I close the box before reaching Brand and am instantly swarmed with Demons. I open and close the box quickly, just for fun, and then chuckle to myself at the little bit of control I have over them. It’s entertaining to watch them whoosh away from the presence of the obsidian. I step beside Brand once again and call out to Chris with my mind. I tell him where we are and invite him and Beth to come join us. “Chris and Beth will be here in a second,” I say to Brand.

  “You called him with your mind? That’s so cool! Hey, open the box. I want to walk in the dark without a Pulse Emitter.”

  “You can’t activate your repeating power if the obsidian is exposed, idiot. What if something goes horribly wrong?”

  “Oh, yeah, you’re right. You make it look so inviting. The freedom to go anywhere at any time is something I haven’t had for quite a while.”

  Beth and Chris walk toward us with their Emitters turned on and nervous expressions on their faces.

  Brand motions to their Emitters. “You can turn those off. Don’t worry. I can repeat us out if anything goes wrong.”

  Chris’s eyes seek out mine, asking for confirmation. I can tell he doesn’t want to put his complete faith and trust in Brand. I can’t blame him. The Shadow Demons have been in Chris’s life more often than not. After extracting his memories and experiencing his fear, along with the added trauma of watching the gruesome deaths at his father’s compound, I can’t blame him one bit for being hesitant.

  “It’s all right, Chris. If there was going to be a problem, Brand would already know.”

  Chris and Beth reach up and turn off their devices.

  I look into the shadows to find a growing number of Demons arriving for the potential feast of powers. Apparently, the smell of three powerful people is enormously inviting. I notice a couple of the Demons are slightly more human looking than the rest. I open the box again and watch as they flee from the four of us. I close the box.

  Beth says, “I don’t see anything.”

  “Only Diamond Bearers can see them,” Brand informs her.

  Beth strains her eyes, giving me the impression she feels she might be able to see the Demons if she tries hard enough. She says to me, “I still remember when you ran out of the cave right into the dark on the delivery trip.” She laughs a little. “That was wicked awesome! And scary at the same time.”

  Chris changes the subject. “So they don’t like the sound of your heartbeat?” His thoughts, on the other hand, reveal something else: Awesome, Beth? Like hell! I died a million deaths when she ran out into the dark.

  “That’s right. My heartbeat repels them, but it’s also the fact that I don’t have any powers. I’m of no interest to them. In fact, if you three went back inside, the Demons would leave this location. They sure hate the obsidian, though. It has an effect on them, but I can’t figure out what.” I walk into the dark with the box closed.

  “What are you doing?” Chris asks.

  “I want to get a closer look at a couple of these things,” I say as I approach two Demons who look less frightening than the others. I try to bump into them, but they float out of my way before I can make contact.

  Brand clears his throat and I notice how the Demons seem to become energized. I glance over my shoulder at everyone. “Brand, I want you to inch closer to the line of darkness. Make the Demons think you’re about to walk into their midst. I’m going to open the box and then close it quickly, you know, just in case you need to repeat.”

  “Fine,” Brand grumbles. “Here I go.” He bends his knee to move his foot forward. The movement causes a spike in the energy emanating from the Demons. I interpret the energy as their excitement about capturing a person with powers, which, if Clara Winter was correct, is what the Demons thrive on. They died attempting to become more powerful, and now in their altered state, they are still trying to consume powers.

  I quickly flash the obsidian and watch what happens. I actually see an energy wave. But this wave is coming from the Demons toward me. I witness the nearest Demon’s transformation. Its appearance shimmers, and becomes more human looking.

  The ground spins wildly, knocking me off balance. Before I can fall, I find myself standing in the same spot, surrounded by the Demons I hadn’t altered yet. “What happened, Brand?”

  “You told me to inch toward the shadows. You never told me to stop, so I entered and the Demons started attacking me. Sure am glad you closed the box.”

  “But Brand, it worked!”

  “What?” Brand, Chris, and Beth all ask together.

  “Before you repeated, I flashed the obsidian and caused some of the Demons to change form. Of course, now they’re back to where they were. We need to do it again, but this time don’t cross the line into darkness. Just make them think you are going to. Something about that level of energy spike is different than it is at other times with them. Maybe all three of you should edge closer.”

  Brand says, “Beth, you got too close. Don’t go so far this time.”

  “This time? I didn’t move at all—oh, wait, did you repeat?”

  “Yep,” Brand says, then lowers his voice and adds, “Please don’t do that again. I don’t like seeing you die.”

  The ambient lighting is too dark to see color on Beth’s cheeks, but her body language tells me she is completely into Brand. She dips her chin, angles her head, and turns her shoulders and hips ever so slightly in his direction.

  “All right,” Chris says. “Let’s do this.”

  “Okay,” I respond. “On the count of three, move toward the dark.” I count out loud and then watch the frenzy within the shadows. I flash the obsidian, causing several Demons to lean toward me. I slam the box shut and watch.

  Brand asks, “Did it work?”

  “I wish you could see this. It’s amazing! They’re changing back to human form. Not all of them, just the ones closest to me. Let’s do it again.” I count to three, and we perform the exercise again. Before my very eyes I watch the transformation of the few Demons closest to me. They look like walking dead guys. One is a woman. I shout, “It’s working! Again, let’s do it again!”

  We continue to execute the same procedure over and over again. Brand has to repeat a couple of times, once for Chris, when he got too close, and once for himself. Finally, I tell them to stop.

  “I’m surrounded by creepy zombie-looking dead people,” I say. “They don’t have cl
aws or sharp teeth, and they behave differently than the monsters they were. They don’t seem to be interested in you guys anymore. They’re just wandering around aimlessly. So Brand, why don’t you try walking into the dark?”

  “Sure,” he responds, less than enthusiastically. He reaches his hand out much further than before and holds his position. Then he moves his whole body past the line of light and into the darkness. Nothing happens. He begins jumping up and down and pumping his fist into the air and yelling at the top of his lungs, “You did it! You did it!” He bounds over to Beth and grabs her hands. She’s reluctant, but he pulls her into the darkness and spins her around.

  “Brand! Stop it!” she shrieks.

  Chris and I laugh at the same time and catch each other’s eye. I walk to him and take him by the hand and lead him out into the darkness. His grip tightens with fear, but he continues forward with me into the shadows. Then he pulls firmly on my hand and brings my body stumbling back to his, capturing me in his arms.

  “Do you know how long I’ve feared the shadows? More than half my life.” He tightens his hold and kisses me assertively and extremely sensually for several long seconds. I relax in his embrace and wrap my arms around his neck, thoroughly enjoying his kiss.

  Beth’s giggling and high-pitched laughter pulls us out of our intimate moment, and that’s when I smell the approaching Demons. “Back into the light! Now!”

  Everyone complies without hesitation, and Brand doesn’t have to repeat.

  “There are more arriving now,” I say.

  Brand asks, “So what exactly did you do?”

  “I think I altered their power with the obsidian. The Demons who are present now are new ones. The Demons in human form are still here too.”

  “Then let’s do it again on the new ones!” Beth exclaims.

  “Okay, get ready.”

  We repeat the same steps as before until all the Demons resemble the walking dead. I confirm the results and the safety of the shadows, and everyone walks toward me once again.